THE PRIME MINISTER ACCUSED HIM IN PARLIAMENT IN 2009 OF BEING HOMOSEXUAL AND OF MISTREATING HIS WIFE AND MOTHER 20 days before the elections, the “duel” is expected. The court leaves in prison the guard who killed Ziver Veizi THE PRIME MINISTER ACCUSED HIM IN PARLIAMENT IN 2009 OF BEING HOMOSEXUAL AND OF MISTREATING HIS WIFE AND MOTHER RAMA-BERISHA SHOWDOWN The PS leader takes the slanders to court, hearing on 18 April 20 days before the elections, the “duel” is expected. The court leaves in prison the guard who killed Ziver Veizi By KLODIANA LALA Just 20 days before the local elections of 8 May 2011, Socialist Party leader Edi Rama will hold his first legal ‘battle’ with the head of government, Sali Berisha. The Mayor of Tirana has appealed to the Supreme Court seeking to annul the decision of the General Prosecutor’s Office not to initiate criminal proceedings against the head of the executive, Berisha, whom he accuses of the criminal offences of slander and insult because of his office. The subject of the case is the accusations... On pages 2-3 (In the photo) Prime Minister Sali Berisha and PS leader Edi Rama

Opinion of the Day To many, today’s Parliament seems vulgar, foul-mouthed, quarrelsome, devoid of ideas, debate, and democracy, an inexhaustible generator of slander...... Continues on page 29 By KIÇO BLUSHI The Disfigurement or Crippling of Parliamentarism

Here are the politicians who have declared it. Bode: I only have one house Strong debates in Parliament over the changes to the law on tourist villages The changes proposed by the government to the law regulating ownership of state land in areas prioritized for tourism sparked heated debates in Parliament yesterday between the opposition and the majority. Socialist deputies claimed that this bill benefits government ministers and even the son and daughter of Prime Minister Sali Berisha. On the other hand, the Minister of Tourism, Ferdinand Xhaferaj, stated that with the approval of the proposed amendments, the “charade” carried out by the socialists in the tourist villages during their time in power is being cleaned up. “It benefits, under the current law, by legalizing it, even with a 30% cost, Mrs. Argita Malltezi Berisha, in whose asset declaration it is shown... On page 8

ECONOMY, THE GOVERNMENT’S EUPHORIA FADES, MID-TERM FIGURES FOR '11-'13 CHANGE ECONOMY, THE GOVERNMENT’S EUPHORIA FADES, MID-TERM FIGURES FOR '11-'13 On pages 10-11

Yesterday in “Europian Voice” By testing the value of very old clichés about the importance of keeping the European Union tied to the Western Balkans only... Continues on page 28 By TIM JUDAH The Balkan Slide

BERISHA: PD WINS On page 6

SHE HAD 20 WOMEN On page 9

RECONSTRUCTION On page 21

STUDENTS: ABSURD On page 19

INTERVIEW On page 22